Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos State Command has pointed out the need for support from relevant authorities to acquire more equipment to tighten up the security of the custodial centers.
The controller of the NCS, Lagos State Command, BR Freedman, stated this in a statement during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund Office.
Freedman stated, “The visit was also an opportunity to intimate LSSTF on the operations of the correctional service and its challenges as well as to table the request for more logistics and equipment for safer custody such as Closed-Circuit Television, communication jammers, scanner, electric fencing, etc. to improve its operations.
Furthermore, LSSTF Executive Secretary, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun, appreciated the visit and said, “LSSTF solely relies on voluntary donations to meet its mandate, and there has been a shortfall in donations that have hindered the Fund from providing as many interventions for the security agencies as required.
“There have been some concerns of citizens about the operations of the correctional centers bordering on the preparedness of the facilities and operatives to respond to unrest within the facilities and externally, including the congestion in the facilities, particularly with the incidence at the Kuje correctional center, which I believe should make the authorities deploy more resources to correctional facilities, especially in Lagos.
“The NCS should consider the possibility of relocating the correctional centers to create more room for inmates, establishing courtrooms closer to major correctional centers, or virtually to reduce the risk/cost related to logistics and transportation of inmates to the courts in far locations.”
